WWU Design

Identity system for Western Washington University’s Department of Design. All of the elements—logo, patterns, and compositions—are built upon an isometric grid. The goal was to create a brand that feels precisely crafted, but also flexible and eclectic.

The common shorthand name for the university is ‘Western,’ which we opted not to use in the brand since calling the department ‘Western Design’ sounds more like an art history term than a design school. Instead, the primary logo is a custom W containing an abbreviated form of the department’s name: WWU DESIGN. The dual-triangle shape nicely houses the letterforms and creates an initial mark that is completely distinct from the University of Washington’s well-known W logo. The logo’s triangle shapes and 60 degree angle form the foundation for all of the other elements in the identity system.

WWU’s existing dark blue & light blue served as the basis for the color palette. We combined this with an orange color that has long been used as an internal department identifier for the BFA program.

We selected Roboto as the primary typeface to provide maximum continuity across print and web applications. The typeface is widely available on Google Fonts and TypeKit, which makes it a practical choice for a brand that will be used and maintained by students. Expensive font licensing was not a viable option for us.

Our type and color, along with an array of custom patterns, can be combined in myriad ways to create an incredibly flexible visual identity system.

This Is How You Become Number One

A self-help book that is neither helpful nor a book, but a bunch of loosely-related drawings that will kind of make you feel like a winner. They are the illustration equivalent of the 1989 Eric Roberts film, Best of the Best.

Logos

Sampling of logos designed for various clients:

The Bone CrushersYouth Soccer Team

Beez BagelsBagels made with locally sourced honey

Denton Domino HallMusic Venue

Dragons SoccerYouth soccer team

Fuhrmann Sweet CornFarm fresh corn

Hockey BunniesCollegiate hockey fan club

Experience PassportCultural literacy workbook

Protect-a-BubSun protective clothing for children

SCHLSouthwest Collegiate Hockey League

Serigraphic Research InstituteScreen printing studio

VCU QatarAcademic support office

Grass Roots House CallMedical cannabis delivery service

The Dallas Show

Election year themed promotional materials for the 2016 Dallas Show, put on by the Dallas Society of Visual Communications.

Serigraphic Research Institute

The Serigraphic Research Institute was a screen printing studio that I shared with Jude Landry. I designed a logo and series of three 2-color posters, one of which can be trimmed down into nine postcards, to promote it (mostly to ourselves).

CVAD Poster 2016

Recruitment poster designed for the University of North Texas College of Visual Arts & Design.

Jude & Alex: An Exhbition

These posters were used to promote the exhibition that Jude Landry and I held at UNT on the Square in downtown Denton, TX.

Experience Passport

"This passport grants you access to life-enriching experiences. Break out of your routine, learn something new, and discover the world of inspiration around you."

The Experience Passport, which I wrote and designed, is published by Chronicle Books. Available for purchase here.

Self-Authored Design

Posters to announce a summer class on the topic of self-authored graphic design.

Sedmoc

All hail Lord Sedmoc. Inspired by the imagery of occult secret societies, I created theset-shirt, sticker, and button designs on the behalf of my students in the University of North Texas Communication Design program.

North Texas Land Scholars

Recruitment poster for the North Texas Land Scholars summer camp, where high school students can learn about land management aimed at preserving native species like the bobwhite quail.

Student Passports

A series of workbooks designed for communication design students at the University of North Texas to promote cultural literacy. Students earned stamps by completing a series of curated experiences, learning about art, music, current events, religion, cuisine, philosophy and more in the process.

CVAD Poster 2015

This 2-color screen printed poster was designed to promote the College of Visual Arts & Design at the University of North Texas. The text reads:

Or maybe this poster won’t make you ask any questionsIn which case, this poster asks the question:Why don’t you have questions?

Aren’t you curious?

About the three-headed chicken?

About its human feet?

About its neck tie,held snug by a double windsor knot?

Look at the chicken.Stare deep into all six of its eyescold and blank.It wants to know.

Aren’t you curious?

About things like lifeand truthand beautyand purpose.

Aren’t you curious?

Where will you find meaning?

The chicken wants to know.

Denton Domino Hall

Logo and series of four 2-color screen printed posters for a local music venue housed in a barnwood shack.

Grass Roots House Call

Grass Roots is a medical cannabis dispensary in located in San Francisco, California. For their delivery service, which goes by the name House Call, I designed an identity system and packaging elements.

Brand Korea

Death is Not Justice

Designed for the 2010 Poster For Tomorrow competition in support of universal abolition of the death penalty.

Mainly Animals

If you like animals or things that aren’t animals, then this is the blog of not-very-good drawings for you.

UNTold+new

Poster designed to promote an exhibition of alumni work from the University of North Texas communication design program. The show was intended to loudly announce the best kept secret in design education.